Corbeil Cathedral

The Catholic parish church Saint -Spire in Corbeil -Essonnes, a town in the department of Essonne in the French region of Ile- de -France, dates back to a collegiate church from the 10th century. The present church was built in the 12th century and consecrated in 1437. After the founding of the Diocese of Evry -Corbeil -Essonnes in 1966 the church to the cathedral was charged. Since the inauguration of the new cathedral of Evry in 1996 Saint -Spire is co-cathedral of the diocese.

History

The construction of the church Saint -Spire is attributed to the Count Haymon, who built the church in the year 950, at there the relics of St.. Exuperius ( Saint -Spire ), the first bishop of Bayeux, accommodate. The church was initially the Twelve Apostles and Saint. Consecrated Exuperius. 1070 the church and the canons belonging to it was surrounded by a wall. In 1019 the first church was destroyed by fire. After two more fires in the first half of the 12th century, the current building was erected in 1437 and the Church was consecrated. At that time the church got its present patronage.

During the French Revolution the collegiate was dissolved and Saint -Spire was the parish church of Corbeil.

Architecture

Exterior

Behind the apse of the church which was built in the 14th century monumental gate is obtained, which demarcated the immunity district of the canons. The pointed arch passage is flanked by two slender towers. In the two niches were originally statues of St.. Exuperius and St.. Lupus ( Saint- Loup ), the third Bishop of Bayeux, whose relics had reached around the year 1000 to Corbeil.

The 35 meter high bell tower from the first half of the 13th century, the lower floor serves as entrance hall rises on the west facade. The columns of the portal are decorated with foliated capitals. Two consoles are designed as heads.

Interior

The three-aisled nave dates from the second half of the 12th century. It is divided into four bays, resting on round arches on massive pillars. The nave was built in 14-15. Century covered with a ribbed vault. The keystones are carved with foliage and two busts. The aisles have groined vault yet.

The north aisle leading to the two rooms of the sacristy of the 13th century. Above the door to the sacristy a mural is obtained, which is dated to the 15th century. It provides the instruction of Mary by the Holy. Anna dar.

From the sacristy a spiral staircase leads to two chapels, which also date from the 13th century. A chapel served as a chapter house, the other chapel, which opens to the choir, was the royal family subject, who took part in the service.

The choir with five- eighth circuit and high lancet windows was built in the 15th century in the Flamboyant Gothic style. In two superimposed niches in the center of the apse wall of the shrine with the relics of St. below. Exuperius kept in the niche above is a wooden sculpture of the saint. The two eastern piers of the crossing point to the oldest capitals of the church. They are carved with a palmette frieze and go back to the 11th century.

Leaded glass windows

The stained glass windows were after the Second World War, mostly, newly created by the stained glass Mauméjean. The representations in the chorus reminiscent of the patron saints of the former churches of Corbeil Saint -Nicolas, Notre -Dame, Saint- Guénault, Saint -Jean- l'Aumônier, Saint -Jacques, Saint- Léonard, Saint -Jean- l'Ermitage. A window is the French king Louis dedicated to the saint, who owned a castle in Corbeil. The large lateral chancel window, the Assumption of Mary dar.

The windows of the north aisle have scenes from the life of Jesus on the subject of Jesus and the adulteress, the Last Supper, the Resurrection of Christ. Two windows tell the story of the relics of St. Exuperius, the patron saint of the church.

On the window of the south aisle, the Raising of the Youth of Naim and Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman are presented. Has a window of the Lady Chapel, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity and the Flight to Egypt on the subject. The other window is dedicated to the childhood of Jesus (Jesus as the son of the carpenter Joseph and the age of twelve among the scribes in the temple ), the first miracle of Jesus at the wedding at Cana and Mary, standing under the cross.

Organ

The present organ was inaugurated in 1984. The organ case was created 1657/60 and 1930 declared a monument historique.

Equipment

• The baptismal font of black marble dating from the 17th century.
• In a chapel of the south aisle there is a painting of Jean -Baptiste Mauzaisse (1784-1844), one was from Corbeil painter. It represents the hl. Exuperius dar. at an exorcism
• The pulpit, a work from the 17th century, comes from the Couvent des Récollets in Paris, which was dissolved during the French Revolution.
• In a chapel in the south aisle is the kneeling figure of Jacques Bourgoin, Governor of Corbeil, who died in 1661. His tomb was until 1805 housed in the 1823 demolished church of Notre-Dame in Corbeil.
• In a niche in the choir of the recumbent figure of Count Haymon reminiscent of the founders of the Collegiate. The sculpture dates from the first half of the 14th century. At the foot of the Count and a dragon on his shield is shown.